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^6:1 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. ² But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” ³ And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: ⁴ how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” ⁵ And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

⁶ On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. ⁷ And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. ⁸ But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. ⁹ And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” ¹⁰ And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. ¹¹ But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus exposes what the human heart tries to control.

I. Jesus and the Sabbath vv 1-5
II. Jesus and Mercy vv 6-10
III. Jesus and Resistance v 11

Introduction
1. When you hear the word “Sabbath,” what comes to mind… rest, rules, worship, restriction? Why?

2. In your experience, how can something that begins as a good practice slowly become rigid or controlling?

Into the Text
3. In vv. 1-2, what exactly are the disciples doing? Why is their action lawful according to Deuteronomy 23? What is the real issue?

4. In vv. 3-4, why does Jesus bring up David eating the bread of the Presence (1 Samuel 21)? What does that example show about the purpose of the law?

5. What does Jesus mean in v. 5 when he says, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath”? What authority is he claiming?

6. In vv. 6-9, why does Jesus bring the man forward publicly before healing him? What does his question in v. 9 reveal about the Pharisees’ hearts?

7. In v. 11, why do the Pharisees respond with fury instead of joy? What does this reaction show about what is really at stake?

Application
8. Where in your life are you tempted to measure faithfulness by rule-keeping rather than trust and dependence on Christ?

9. When Jesus’ words expose something in your heart, what is your first instinct… to repent, to explain, or to defend? Why?

10. What would it look like this week to let Jesus define “rest” and “faithfulness” in your life instead of trying to manage them yourself?